Statistics Users Group: appointment of Panel Members.

2019  R.117

REPORT

The Statistics Users Group is established in the Statistics and Census (Jersey) Law 2018, as a body which is independent of government, with the primary function of overseeing the quality, relevance and integrity of statistics compiled by or on behalf of a public authority.

The Group does this considering the range of statistics provided; their relevance and appropriateness; the demands placed upon providers of information; confidentiality; the methodology by which statistics are compiled and their accuracy and reliability; the independence of the compilation and dissemination process from political or other inappropriate  influence;  and  the  form  and  procedures  through  which  statistical information is disseminated.

The Group requires a breadth of members with a diversity of knowledge to discharge these functions effectively, including a combination of new members bringing fresh ideas and thoughts, and established members delivering experience and continuity. Following a recruitment exercise, and having confirmed the process against the Jersey Appointments Commission guidelines, 3 new members have been asked to join the Users Group for a 3 year term, namely –

• Mr. Daniel Pullinger, who has many years retail experience in the grocery sector, including as a store manager, and managing procurement and service improvement processes. He adds valuable commercial knowledge to the Group, and increases the "voice of the small business user" around the table.

• Mr. Simon Lewis is a head of the Mathematics and Computing Faculty at Jersey College for Girls, and has worked in senior and middle management teaching roles for many years – mainly in Jersey, following his move to the Island 20 years ago, but also in China. He obtained a Masters Degree in Law from Cambridge University. Mr. Lewis has a familiarity with statistical concepts, and fluency and skill with numbers and their presentation, and will increase the group's focus on the importance of rigour in the compilation of statistics.

• Ms. Moz Scott is an experienced legal professional, having worked in corporate tax law in the United Kingdom and commercial law and finance at senior levels in Jersey. She has subsequently been engaged in a range of freelance activities and voluntary work in our community, in particular, in the Parish of St. Brelade, and as a member of the Public Accounts Committee. She brings valuable legal experience and a strong understanding of public policy issues.

In addition, and in order to secure a level of continuity, the following members have been asked to renew their membership –

• Mr. Auberon Ashbrooke lectures part-time on degree courses at Highlands in Research and Operations. Following a Masters Degree at Cambridge University in Economics, and as well as obtaining other higher education qualifications in management and financial management, he worked in various senior roles in the Ministry of Defence, including private secretary to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff. (First appointed November 2016, and to be appointed for a further 3 years).

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• Ms. Amy Bryant is a chartered Accountant with over 10 years' experience in the  finance  industry,  more  recently  working  for  Jersey  Finance  Limited, including having responsibilities for the strategic project function. She obtained a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Durham, returning to Jersey following graduation in 2005 to train with Price WaterhouseCoopers.  (First appointed November 2016, and to be appointed for a further 3 years).

• Mr. Martin Delap is a self-employed IT and project management consultant. He has an academic background in Physics, with a Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics and worked in the United Kingdom following graduation as a Statistics and Research Officer for a public examination board, returning to Jersey in 1994 and working on a variety of projects in the public and private sector. (First appointed November 2016, and to be appointed for a further 3 years).

• Ms. Maria Pelin is a locum Pharmacist who moved to Jersey in 2012 following a career as a pharmacist in Romania. Ms. Pelin speaks 6 languages, and has Class A Masters in Pharmacy Degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest. (First appointed November 2016, and to be appointed for a further 3 years).

• Mr. Graeme Marett is a Chartered Engineer and is currently self-employed, having  taken  early  retirement  from  the  Jersey  Competition  Regulatory Authority. Mr. Marett has many years of experience in local industry, and has served on the Users Group for a number of years, with a particular interest in maintaining  and  improving  governance  around  statistical  production  and maintaining the independence of Statistics Jersey. (First appointed September 2012, and to be appointed for a further 2 years).

Further members of the group are being sought, including a permanent Chair, to support a wide and diverse membership, with a further recruitment exercise to start in October 2019 with a view to reporting in January 2020. In the meantime, Mr. Ashbrooke has been asked  to act as  Chair. This  further search for  members  will be  undertaken considering  wider  policy  issues  around  appointments  to  independent  bodies.  In particular, the Chief Minister is keen to review arrangements around appointments so as to –

• increase diversity in the membership of boards, by promoting and encouraging interest from a wider selection of candidates;

• deliver a standard and consistent framework to manage the involvement of former politicians, most particularly in the period immediately after leaving office, especially in relation to bodies which they have established or for which they have had responsibility, and more generally, promoting high standards and good conduct.

The aim is to broaden the membership of boards while also maintaining and supporting high standards, and to address current practice which allows individuals to hold a number of key positions on different bodies, reducing this frequency.

These principles will be developed further with a view to developing a more general policy statement, alongside wider changes to support good governance, and considered and applied to further appointments to the Statistics Users Group.

R.117/2019

Financial and manpower implications

The Members are unpaid, and there are no other additional financial or manpower implications.